Governors, Senators Set For 2016 Brawl

Posted by Political Quarterback17pc on February 08, 2015

The Republican presidential primary is shaping up to be a battle between the statehouse and the statesmen.

Current and former governors such as Jeb Bush (Fla.), Scott Walker (Wis.) and Chris Christie (N.J.) are touting their hands-on experience outside of Washington as a major asset against Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee.

But those eyeing the White House from Capitol Hill are punching back, dismissing the argument that being from outside D.C. is better.

The notion that the executive experience governors get on the job is an asset in the White House is nothing new. But a crowded GOP field pulling talent from governors’ mansions and the halls of the Senate has jumpstarted that debate ahead of 2016.

History may not be on the senators’ side, though. President Barack Obama became the first president elected from the Senate since John F. Kennedy in 1960. And after eight years of Obama, GOP primary voters may be eager to look far from the Senate for a replacement.

“A lot of Republicans see Barack Obama as somebody who was just not prepared for the job,” said Ford O’Connell, a GOP strategist. “Governors just have a stronger argument.”